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Furman Upsets Top-Seed ETSU 76–61 to Win SoCon Title, Claim NCAA Berth

The Paladins clinch the league's automatic NCAA berth with a decisive win over the top seed.

Overview

  • Cooper Bowser led No. 6 seed Furman with 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Paladins shot 51% from the field.
  • Tom House added 13 points off the bench and Alex Wilkins scored 12 after his 34-point semifinal outburst.
  • Furman built a 42–35 halftime lead and sealed the game late with a Wilkins steal-and-dunk to go up 72–61 with 2:11 left.
  • ETSU struggled from distance and the stripe at 3-for-16 on threes and 10-for-18 on free throws, going 2-for-7 from the field over the final five minutes.
  • The victory marks Furman’s eighth Southern Conference tournament crown and first since 2023; ETSU’s Brian Taylor II scored 16 in defeat, with 14 after halftime.